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| Staff Writer |
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A daughter of Frankel became the second most expensive yearling ever sold in Europe when fetching 4,400,000 guineas (US$5.8m) during a remarkable opening session of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale at Newmarket on Tuesday.
Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing, now a major force in British racing, secured the filly out of Gr.2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes winner Aljazzi, seeing off strong competition from Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida. The filly was consigned by Julian Dollar's Newsells Park Stud, who had purchased Aljazzi for a record-breaking US$1.3m at the 2018 Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
Only the Al Naamah filly, sold for US$6.6m at this sale in 2013, has achieved a higher price in European auction history. That filly was purchased by Al Shaqab Racing, owned by Qatar's Royal Family.
Another Frankel filly, this time a full sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista, reached US$3.3m when also falling to Joorabchian. Bred by Kirsten Rausing's Staffordstown, the filly represents one of the most coveted families in the stud book.
Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation made their presence felt when going to US$2.9m for a No Nay Never colt from Ballylinch Stud. The colt is a half-brother to Gr.2 Champagne Stakes winner Iberian and represents a long-standing family developed by the Irish nursery.
Historical context: The sale has previously produced numerous Classic and Group One winners, including 2000 Guineas victor Galileo Gold and Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain.
"We need strong pedigreed fillies and we have a lot of horses going to stud in the next year," said Joorabchian, whose emerging operation has quickly become a significant player in the bloodstock world. "It is very difficult to buy such mares because the likes of Juddmonte, Coolmore, Shadwell, all the big guys own all the big mares."
The clearance rate during the opening day was an impressive 90%, with 18 lots realising US$662,000 or more. The progeny of Frankel were particularly in demand, accounting for three of the four seven-figure prices.